The Increasing Danger Posed by Fungal Infections

The overuse of antibiotics in healthcare and farming has become a significant issue, as bacteria have developed resistance to them, resulting in difficult-to-treat infections.

However, it's not just bacteria that have become resistant to drugs. Fungi have also acquired this capability.

In a troubling study, researchers are discussing the emergence of drug-resistant strains of fungi, following a pattern similar to what has been observed in bacteria.

Fungi not only damage crops but the number of deaths globally from fungal diseases now exceeds those caused by malaria and breast cancer. Read on for the full story...

Overview

The Threat is Serious and Immediate

There are approximately a quarter of a million fungal species on Earth, but only about 300 of them can cause illnesses in humans. Similar to bacteria, there are beneficial fungi that live in the human body, as well as harmful ones.

Common fungal infections include athlete's foot, jock itch, vaginal thrush, and ringworm, all of which can be effectively treated. However, there is growing concern about other infections that are much more challenging to combat.

Last year, a team of international researchers led by Imperial College London, with support from Britain's Medical Research Council, raised alarms about this issue.

They warned that unless new treatments are developed, the situation could spiral out of control.

Incurable Fungus Infections

Matthew Fisher, Professor of Fungal Disease Epidemiology and the lead author of the paper, emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, “The threat of antimicrobial resistance is well established in bacteria, but has largely been neglected in fungi. The scale of the problem has been, until now, under-recognized and under-appreciated, but the threat to human health and the food chain are serious and immediate.”

He further noted, “Fungi pose a growing threat to human and crop health as new species and variants spread globally, underscoring the importance of finding ways to combat them.

“However, due to the limited number of anti-fungal drugs available, the emergence of resistance is causing many common fungal infections to become incurable.”

Aspergillus - a Heavy Duty Pathogen

The paper by the British group, published in the journal Science, highlighted that fungi not only destroy nearly one-third of all crops worldwide but also emphasized the unprecedented rise in resistance to anti-fungal medications and the increasing impact on human health.

Since fungi are genetically closer to humans than bacteria, developing a drug that targets fungi without causing harm to humans is challenging. As a result, there are only four classes of anti-fungal drugs available for human use.

Fungi are also more adept than bacteria at becoming airborne. Professor Neil Gow, President of the Microbiology Society, revealed that humans inhale between 100 and 300 spores of a single species, aspergillus, each day.

Professor Fisher described this as "a heavy-duty pathogen" found in soil, air, food, decaying organic matter, and damp walls.

Who’s at Risk?

Aspergillus poses no threat to individuals in good health, as the immune cells in the lungs can eliminate the microbes. However, individuals with serious lung conditions may face challenges.

Fungi thrive in suppressed immune systems, making patients who have undergone transplants, those with cancer, and individuals with HIV/AIDS particularly vulnerable.

Even healthy young adults, up to one in five, can get infected while hospitalized with severe flu infections.

Recently, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that over a third of flu patients with invasive aspergillus infections, known as aspergillosis, were otherwise healthy individuals without documented immunosuppressive conditions.

Tulip Bulb and Compost Heap Warning

Surprisingly, researchers found almost no drug-resistant strains of aspergillus in farmers' crop fields in the UK. Instead, they discovered them in woods, public gardens, and parks across southern England.

These resistant strains were also found in flower beds containing tulips, daffodils, and crocuses, as these bulbs are treated with anti-fungal chemicals. Drug resistance creates focal points in plants for incubating and releasing aspergillus spores into the environment.

Professor Fisher advised individuals with compromised immune systems to avoid these bulbs and even issued a caution regarding compost heaps.

“Compost heaps can be extremely dangerous if your innate immunity is compromised,” he warned. Composting is popular among gardening enthusiasts, although some, like myself, refrain from composting due to concerns about attracting pests.

Patients at risk should heed Professor Fisher’s advice. Maintaining a robust immune system is crucial for fending off pathogens, especially fungi.

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